Every day we awaken to new headlines depicting a world in crisis: storms, floods, droughts, refugees, diplomatic conflict, war. As we move deeper into an era of climate unpredictability, pollution and resource scarcity, they increasingly have one thing in common: they are water-related. And among the most challenging of these may be a water source we rarely think about: the groundwater beneath our feet.

Access to groundwater is a vital part of feeding the world’s growing population. Around 44% of irrigated food production worldwide uses groundwater as a water source. And as surface water becomes more scarce or polluted, agriculture will demand more and more groundwater.

Groundwater is out of sight – stored and transmitted in cracks and pores and other open spaces in the subsurface –so-called aquifers. But it is becoming top of mind for decision-makers – especially since it has no regard for political borders. Groundwater needs to be part of the solution for the growing scourge of drought. We watch as Cape Town struggles with severe drought due to poorly aligned coping strategies. However, now, groundwater is coming into play to ameliorate the scarcity faced by residents. And likely, it will serve as one of the major saviors for these water-stressed communities.

However, imagine the fallout of a prolonged rainfall shortage in an area without groundwater. This is the recipe for mass migration of people, potential conflicts and far-reaching knock-on effects. We have already seen refugee and political hotspots enflamed by water crises in the Middle East. But we have barely encountered the tip of the iceberg. The rest of the iceberg is not frozen water, but depleted aquifers. This phenomenon is spreading across dry regions of the earth.

Countries in the Middle East, Northern Africa, South and Eastern Asia – including prominent countries like India and China – have already overdrawn their water security accounts. There is no longer enough groundwater to shoulder future droughts. Jeopardized food security could be the domino effect. These countries are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and are only now realizing how ill-prepared they are for the challenges.

Key to avoiding the worst of a crisis is sound water governance, particularly as it relates to groundwater. If, with little foresight, we deplete or destroy our groundwater resources due to governance structures that do not explicitly aim to sustain it, societies may be undermined. Syria is a clear example.

A new book on Advances in Groundwater Governance asserts that we have made some progress in terms of addressing governance for the sustainable use of groundwater. But for the long-term resilience of communities in vulnerable areas around the world, we need to do much more.

Groundwater, while a crucial hub for water security cannot be seen in isolation. And solutions need to be rooted in the social fabric. What works in China, may not work in India.

Politicians, governments, businesses, farmers and the public need to engage in this now. Groundwater cannot be governed solely by a top-down approach. We need our leaders – and society at large – to take seriously the governance of our degrading, but crucial ‘last frontier’ natural water resource. If we fail to consider this urgently, the world can expect a future of serious groundwater-fed crises.

Related contents

Can innovative policies and regulations reverse the trend of groundwater depletion? A three-year USAID-funded project implemented by IWMI, WLE and national partners across the Middle East-North Africa region investigated just that. Highlighted here are five problems that prevent the MENA region from properly addressing groundwater issues, as well as some potential solutions.

Hidden from the eye beneath the Earth's surface in soil pore spaces and in fractures of rock formations, groundwater supports global food security, contributes to public health, and is a critical factor in economic growth.

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